Participants during the snowboarding activity with the Hoods to Woods Foundation at the Big Snow American Dream in East Rutherford, New Jersey on June 13, 2024.
Danielle DeVries |
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — For 16-year-old Zyshawn Gibson, snowboarding at Big Snow American Dream's indoor ski park in East Rutherford, New Jersey, was a welcome change of pace.
Gibson's participation in the ski park was made possible by the Hoods to Woods Foundation, a nonprofit based in New York and New Jersey that “brings an awareness of the outdoors to inner-city kids through snowboarding,” according to the organization's website. In its 15-year history, Hoods to Woods has helped hundreds of underprivileged youth like Gibson develop a new interest and outlet through snowboarding, says co-founder Omar Diaz.
“It keeps me from being home,” Gibson told CNBC from a living room in the Big Snow complex. “It's different than being out on the street and being in danger and stuff like that.”
Hoods to Woods, the brainchild of Diaz and co-founder Brian Paupaw, aims to provide new opportunities for teens and young adults from similar backgrounds. The group hosts week-long programs in urban areas in both states.
Participants during the snowboarding activity with the Hoods to Woods Foundation at the Big Snow American Dream in East Rutherford, New Jersey on June 13, 2024.
Danielle DeVries |
The organization is just one of several in the United States dedicated to engaging people of color in outdoor activities such as winter sports – areas where they are often marginalized and underrepresented.
A 2019-2020 participation study published by Snowsports Industries America showed that white American participation remained at 67.5%. In comparison, Asians made up 7.7% of participants, while blacks made up 9.2% and Hispanics made up 14%.
Similarly, a 2023 demographic study updated by the National Ski Areas Association found that white participants made up 88.1% of guests.
One factor contributing to this gap is the high barrier to entry for these winter sports, given the average cost of equipment and transportation. The same study by Snowsports Industries America found that more than half of winter sports athletes earned over $75,000 per year in 2019-2020.
Breaking down barriers
But organizations like Hoods to Woods are committed to breaking down these walls.
The nonprofit organization was founded in 2009 by Paupaw and Diaz, two experienced snowboarders, to give back to their community by introducing youth to the outdoors through snowboarding.
Co-founder Omar Diaz (right), his son Sebastian (center) and volunteer Katie Korpacz pose for a photo during the snowboarding activity with the Hoods To Woods Foundation at the Big Snow American Dream in East Rutherford, New Jersey on June 13, 2024.
Danielle DeVries |
“Portraying people who looked like me and even came from my background was important because you can be out on the mountain and hear people talking, but they don't sound like you,” Diaz said. “You grow up in an urban environment, and in the mountains, everyone around you sounds completely different.”
The entire program – including snowboarding lessons, transportation and meals – is free for the young participants. Paupaw and Diaz are raising money to pay for travel and meals.
The group also accepts donations of equipment or gifts, and Big Snow has provided its facilities to the nonprofit organization free of charge for years.
Curating outdoor communities
In addition to Hoods to Woods, there are other nonprofit organizations in the United States that pursue similar goals.
Edge Outdoors in Washington State, for example, has set itself the goal of “[address] the invisibility of Black, Indigenous and women of color in winter sports,” founder Annette Diggs told CNBC. The group also works to include women who are part of the LGBTQ+ community, including both trans and queer-identifying participants.
“What’s special about Edge is that we work with the community – many of our participants are taught by people from their community, that is, Black and brown people,” she said.
Ciera Young, a Black woman with multiple sclerosis, learned adaptive skiing with a scholarship from Edge.
“I was just so grateful that my teachers listened to me. They said, 'We want to make sure you can ski the way you want to and that you feel empowered,'” she said. “Being around other BIPOC people was incredible.”
Zyshawn Gibson, left, and Tah'gee Van Dunk during snowboarding activity with the Hoods to Woods Foundation at the Big Snow American Dream in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on June 13, 2024.
Danielle DeVries |
Meanwhile, Vermont-based nonprofit Unlikely Riders, founded in 2020, plans to build an open-air community center managed by people of color that co-founder Abby Crisostomo says will one day be a “radically inclusive space.”
Crisostomo estimates that in the four years since its founding, Unlikely Riders has hosted more than 145 events, donated 2,500 pieces of winter gear and taught more than 570 community members for free. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, the group also introduces people of color and LGBTQ+ communities to mountain biking while creating a welcoming environment.
Small businesses like Skida and ToughCutie, owned by people of color groups, have been instrumental in supporting Unlikely Riders' efforts by donating equipment and hosting events.
The circle closes
In addition to their mission of inclusivity, the co-founders of Hoods to Woods also emphasized the importance of mentorship within the program, including connecting participants in their community and helping with financial literacy, college applications and job opportunities.
“I've seen kids who had behavioral problems at school and at home turn things around because they were able to be in an environment where they could be themselves and think freely,” Paupaw said. “For me, that's one of the most impressive things I've witnessed as a human being, but also as a co-founder of this program.”
Through Hoods to Woods, Diaz, Paupaw and their volunteers have built many relationships with their participants, some of whom return to volunteer after completing their programs.
Participants and volunteers during the snowboarding activity with the Hoods to Woods Foundation at the Big Snow American Dream in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on June 13, 2024. More than half of the program's volunteers are certified snowboard instructors, said co-founder Omar Diaz.
Danielle DeVries |
“It's the perfect combination,” Diaz told CNBC. “Giving back to the youth, making a difference in their lives and doing it in a place I love – that makes me happy. There's no better way to give back.”
Miquan Chisholm, 27, was one of the first participants in the program 15 years ago. Today he volunteers for the cause. His daughter is only three years old, but he can imagine her becoming part of the community one day.
“It changed my life because it gave me a different perspective on life. I never thought I would be snowboarding as a black man… And I fell in love with it,” he said. “Hoods to Woods definitely gave me the confidence to try new things and just be open to things in life and realize that there are so many opportunities out there for people.”
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